E 

675 

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1872 

MAIN 


IRLF 


B    3    53fi    DD7 


Ram 
•W 


THE  REPUBLICAN  PARTY, 


TI1E 


ClYILIIATIOl 


AND 


NATIONAL  PROGRESS. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

As  the  Greeks,  in  their  earlier  and  better  days,  met 
every  fourth  year  to  engage  »n  the  Olympic  contests, 
which  crystalized  traditions,  renewed  the  pledges  of 
patriotic  devotion,  and  awakened  intellectual  and  dra 
matic  activity  ;  so  are  we  about  to  engage  in  a  quad 
rennial  contest,  which  involves  a  general  review  and 
discussion  of  political  questions  in  every  township  of 
our  land. 

Whether  the  campaign  shall  be  profitable  to  the 
government  and  nation;  whether  the  iucuming  admin 
istration  shall  receive  new  political  ligbi  and  instruc 
tion ;  and  whether  our  citizens  shall  come  out  of  the 
contest  more  patriotic  and  better  qualified  to  discharge 
their  electoral  functions,  depends  very  much  upon  the 
Rttnner  in  which  public  questions  are  presented.  It 
is  true,  efforts  are  being  made  to  usher  in  a  warfare  of 
Of  d  odors  which  even  the  Chinese  have  abandoned  ;  to 
draggle  the  flags  in  the  mire;  and  to  overwhelm  the 
J  frter  and  honest  judgment  of  the  voters  bv  the  vehe 
ment  explosion  of  vile  epithets;  but  confident  of  the 
intelligence  of  our  citizens,  we  shall  pass  by  these  ef 
forts  with  silent  contempt,  and  present  the  affirmative 
Issues  of  the  campaign  tor  discussion  not  concussion, 
so  that  prejudice  may  be  laid  aside  and  the  contest  de 
cided  upon  the  merits  of  the  great  cause. 
The  demands  of  civilization  upon  government  are 

umerous,  complicated,  and  ever   increasing,  and  the 

zperirnent  of  popular  self-government  has  very  rarely 
cceeded.  Ours,  in  fact,  is  the  only  government  upon 
large  scale  which  is  peacefully  administered  and 
lely  dependent  upon  the  intelligence,  virtue  and 
iriotism  of  ail  the  people.  AuU  inasmuch  aa  the  bal 


lot  of  (he  ignorant  and  vicious  man  counts  as  much  a^ 
that  of  the  wisest  and  greatest,  a  great  responsibility 
rests  upon  thp  honest  citizen  to  exert  all  his  influence  to 
everoalance  the  vicious  elements  of  society,  aud  to  sus 
tain  those  principles  of  administration,  which  lead  to 
national  permanency  and  greatness.  Not  only  is  our 
own  national  and  individual  security  and  prosperity  at 
stake,  but  also  that  of  all  future  generations. 

It  is  not  merely  the  right,  but  the  imperative  dutyol 
each  citizen  to  demand  a  truthful  exhibit  of  the  stew 
ardship  of  the.  Republican  party  and  the  administra 
tion  which  executed  its  will ;  and  for  this  purpose  we 
present  herewith  a  bird's  eye  view  of  its  activities, 
tendencies,  aud  achievements  in  the  various  branches 
of  governmental  affairs.  But  as  all  political  docu 
ments  must  be  brief  to  receive  general  perusal,  we 
only  give  the  outlines,  which  each  reader  can  fill  out 
with  collateral  suggestions. 

A  SKETCH  OF  DEMOCRATIC  TIMES. 

Foremost  aruoug  these  achievements  we  place  all 
legislative  acts  to  secure  the  personal  freedom  of  the 
citizen,  but  before  we  can  realize  the  progress  made  in 
this  direction  we  must  briefly  sketch  the  political  situa 
tion.  Only  ten  years  ago,  between  three  and  four  mil- 
liuns  of  human  beings  were  subject  to  bargain  and 
sale  like  the  cattle  of  the  Geld,  and  prohibited  by  law 
from  learning  even  to  read  or  write;  the  press,  lb.8 
forum,  and  eveu  the  pulpit,  in  more  than  one-half  o| 
the  Union,  defended  this  accursed  tyranny  ;  freedom 
of  discussion  was  entirely  suppressed  in  ;he  South, 
and  accompanied  by  perils  in  the  North  ;  the  strong 
arm  of  the  government  was  invoked  to  thrust  back 
into  this  seething  hell  of  slavery  all  ventursome  vio» 


tims  who  fled  across  the  border ;  and  a  gigantic  rebel 
lion  was  deliberately  organized  to  uphold  this  crime 
against  civilization.  When  Lincoln  was  inaugurated, 
tbe  nation  was  without  armament  or  supplies ;  with 
out  an  army  or  a  navy  ;  and  without  money,  or  credit 
abroad.  VVell  do  we  recollect  the  insolent  proposal  of 
the  London  Tone*  which  stated,  that  if  the  Americans 
were  determined  to  cat  each  others  throats,  England 
might  be  induced  to  loan  the  North  fifty  millions  of 
dollars,  if  it  pawned  its  growing  wheat  crop;  and  to 
the  Poutb  H  double  amount  as  a  mortgage  upon  its  cot- 
Uiu.  Treachery  and  treason  lurked,  aot  only  in  the 
Executive  Departments  but  had  even  saturated  a  large, 
wealthy,  powerful,  and  talented  minority  of  the  North. 
New  systems  had  to  be  created  under  difficulties  so 
great  and  an  opposition  so  fierce,  that  the  achieve 
ments  of  the  American  people— as  represented  by  the 
Republican  organization — shine  forth  like  a  constella 
tion  of  suns  illumining  the  political  pathway  of  all 
future  generations. 

LEGISLATION  FOR  PERSONAL  LIBERTY. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1861,  Lincoln  assembled  Con 
gress  in  extra  session  which  was  chiefly  devoted  to  the 
Inauguration  of  war  measures,  but  during  the  long 
session  a  series  of  acts  followed  in  rapid  succession, 
striking  at  the  slave  system.  As  early  as  August,  1861, 
an  act  was  passed  to  free  all  slaves  used  in  aid  of  the 
rebellion.  In  the  succeeding  March,  our  military. and 
naval  officers  were  prohibited  from  returning  the  fugi 
tive  slaves  that  might  seek  the  protection  of  our  flag ; 
and  in  April,  the  National  Capital  was  forever  freed 
from  the  bligh-ting  influences  of  human  slavery. 
These  measures  were  followed  by  acts  more  radical  as 
rapidly  as  they  were  sustained  by  public  opinion.  The 
statute  of  June,  10th,  1862,  swept  slavery  from  all  the 
Territories  of  the  United  States,  and  thus,  Jefferson's 
Ordinance  of  1787,  was  reaffirmed  as  the  policy  of  the 
National  government ;  and  the  act  of  January  28, 1864, 
repealed  the  fugitive  slave  act,  which  for  years  had 
been  a  blot  upon  our  National  escutcheon.  Thus  sla 
vey  was  inhibited  wherever  the  National  Government 
had  exclusive  jurisdiction,  and  the  hesitation  of  Con 
gress  to  strike  it  down  in  the  rebel  and  border  States, 
was  owing  to  its  intrenchment  behind  the  theory  of 
State  Rights,  and  the  support  it  received  from  tho 
Democratic  minority  in  the  North,  which  in  the  fall  ot 
1602,  carried  ihc  elections  in  a  number  of  States.  In 
January,  1860,  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proclamation 
was  issued,  which  virtually  abolished  slavery,  but  to 
place  ih.2  per&onal  liberty  of  the  freedmen  beyond  the 
reach  of  party  majorities  and  Congressional  interfer 
ence,  tho  Thirteenth  Constitutional  amendment  was 
adopted  and  ratified  — every  Republican  State  legisla- 
Jwre  endorsing  and  every  Democratic  State  rejecting 
fills  great  charter  of  personal  liberty. 

It  is  true  this  constitutional  compact  struck  the  fet- 
Jers  from  the  slaves  in  law,  but  it  soon  became  evident 
jjhat  without  enfranchisement  their  liberty  would  be 
jut  nominal  and  a  mockery,  because,  under  vagrant 
*nd  other  oppressive  laws,  their  former  masters,  who 
wera'the  sole  law-givers,  would  make  the  situation*^ 


the  freedmen,  in  a  material  point  of  \riew,  evea  worse 
than  before.  Thus  the  alternative  was  presented  of 
maintaining  a  standing  army  to  enforce  the  Thirteenth 
Amendment,  or  to  g-ive  the  ballot  to  the  freedmen  foi 
their  own  protection.  It  was  considered  a  dangerous 
experiment,  and  the  struggle  was  long  and  fierce.  The 
Fourteenth  Amendment  was  adopted  as  a  compromise; 
but  in  January,  1867,  despite  tho  veto  dnd  active  op 
position  of  Johnson,  who,  after  his  apostacy  traduced 
these  measures  and  the  party,  if  not  with  the  same 
ability  certainly  with  equal  ze;il,  as  the  malcontents  of 
the  Ssnate  do  to-day;  an  act  was  adopted  enfranchising 
the  freedmen  in  all  the  Territories  of  the  United  States. 
In  February,  1869,  the  personal  freedom  and  the 
right  of  self-government  was  secured  to  all  citizens  b7 
the  ratification  of  the  Fifteenth  Constitutional  Amend* 
ment;  and  thus  the  work  of  a  century  waa  crowded 
into  five  years. 

FOR  EDUCATION. 

Next  to  the  franchise  stands  education.  As  edge 
tools  are  dangerous  to  children,  so  tho  ballot  is  a 
meu'nsof  destruction  to  the  ignorant  and  vicious.  The 
Republican  party  is  fully  alive  to  the  vital  importance 
of  this  subject;  and  if  it  has  not  accomplished  till  that 
its  most  progressive  leaders  have  advocated,  it  has 
made  decided  progress  in  the  right  direction. 

Already  in  May,  1862,  finding,  that  at  the  National 
Capital,  the  public  school  system  had  been  squelched 
by  slavery,  which  lived  upon  the  degradation  of  the 
laboring  classes,  both  white  and  black,  Congress 
ordered  that  a  sufficient  amount  of  taxes  be  levied  and 
apportioned  for  the  support  of  free  schools  for  both 
classes.  Up  to  that  time  the  Capital  cf  the  nation, 
with  nearly  a  hundred  thousand  inhabitants,  owned  not 
a  single  suitable  and  comfortable  school  building;  the 
blacks,  of  course,  were  not  taught,  and  the  few  schools 
popularly  called  pauper  and  ragged  schools  that  \ver» 
maintained  by  the  proceeds  of  fines  and  the  dog  tax, 
wero  situated  in  shop  and  stable  lofts.  Now  we  have 
a  number  of  well  appointed  school  hoases,  both  for 
the  whites  and  the  blacks,  and  the  educational  sya 
terns  of  both  hare  made  reasonable  progress. 

In  Jr.ly,  18G2,  tho  act  was  passed  which  donated 
large  tracts  of  lands  for  the  maintainanco  of  Agricul 
tural  and  Mining  schools  in  the  various  States  and 
Territories.  In  some  States  these  colleges  have  at 
tained  a  high  degree  of  useful uess,  while  the  germs  a 
progress  have  been  planted  in  all.  In  January,  1863, 
when  large  numbers  of  soldiers  were  quartered  i:i 
Washington,  a  free  library  and  reading  room  for  the 
use  of  soldiers  and  sailors  was  established.  In  tha 
following  March,  Howard  University  was  incorporated, 
whose  usefulness  to  the  colored  race  has  been  very 
great.  It  affords  the  aspiring  youth  cf  that  proscribed 
race — proscribed  by  public  sentiment  in  many  places 
yet— an  opportunity  to  study  law,  medicine  and  science 
in  a  manner  so  thorough  that  ita  graduates  will  tale 
high  rank  among  those  of  other  Universities.  Tid 
graduates  of  that  institution  will  do  credit,  not  only  to 
their  race,  but  to  the  American  nation.  In  1866,  -ae 
Department  of  Education-vwas  established,  which,  o.?- 


though  it  is  yet  circumscribed  in  scope,  and  hampered 
by  inadequate  appropriations,  will  become,  as  its  ob 
jects  are  better  comprehended,  one  of  the  most  import 
ant  branches  of  government.  Its  reports  are  highly 
esteemed  in  Europe,  and  the  one  for  1S72,  contains  a 
Dumber  of  educational  ideas  of  great  value,  and  indis 
pensable  statistical  information. 

Still  going  in  the  same  direction,  a  measure  has 
passed  the  House  setting  apart  the  proceeds  from  the 
sale  of  the  National  domain,  in  support  of  public 
schools.  This  act  ts  of  two-fold  value,  because  it  will 
have,  ia  addition  to  its  direct  benefits,  a  tendency  to 
prevent  the  further  alienation  of  the  public  domain. 
Every  educator  will  hereafter  insist,  that  if  appro 
priations  for  railways  and  other  projects  shall  be  made, 
they  must  not  be  aided  by  robbing  Ihe  school  fund. 

Before  the  late  rebel  S-tates  were  re-admitted  they 
were  compelled,  as  a  part  of  the  fundamental  compact. 
between  them  and  the  United  States,  to  engraft  pro- 
visions  into  their  new  State  Constitutions  fora  perma 
nent  public  school  system  for  all  classes.  Already 
has  Massachusetts  ushered  in  a  new  but  parallel  sys 
tem  of  schools—  the  kindergarten,  industrial  and  poly 
technic  school  system,  which  will  be  the  emancipator 
of  labor  from  ignoraaco,  and.  therefore,  from  servi 
tude. 

FOR   THE  W0UKINOMAN. 

As  ;i  rock  projected  into  the  center  oi  a  still  body  of 
water  moves,  ia  ever  increasing  circles,  the  entire  sur 
face;  EO  the  emancipation  of  three  million  of  laboring 
men,  was  an  act  of  such  stupendous  moral  force  that 
its  influences  were'  fclt  to  the  furthest  boundaries  of  the 
globe.  Rnssia-,  comprising  one  seven-th  part  of  the 
inhabitable  globe,  and  with  a  homogeneous  population 
oi  a  hundred  millions,  felt  first  ibis  moral  power,  and 
the  fetters  fell  from  the  ser-fs.  The  Czar,  taking  cour 
age  from  our  example,  wrought  out  this  great  and 
beneficent  tn  asure  even  at  the  risk  of  his  throne,  for 
the  serf-holding  nobility  were  exceedingly  hostile  to 
the  plan.  Increased  vigilance  was  exercised  by  Greut 
Britain  to  exterminate  the  African  slave  trade,  and 
Brazil,  which  is  to  Sooth  America  what  the  United 
States  arc  to  North  America,  at-  once  initiated  measures 
for  emancipation-.  Cuba  is  now  the  only  country  in 
the  civilized  world  where  slavery  exiso,  and  there  the 
system  rests  upon  the  volcano  of  chronic  insurrection, 

The  workirigmen  of  al]  hinds  have  taken  fresh  cour 
age,  aad  all  their  really  efficient  organizations  of  trades 
unions  and  co-operative  societies,  as  well  as  the  inter 
national  organization,  have  been  established  since  that 


The  first  great  act  for  the  benefit,  of  the  workingman 
was  passed,  May  20,  1863.  It  is  known  as  the  home 
stead  act,  giving  to  actual  settlers  100  acres  oJ  the 
public  domain.  Public  sentiment  had  demanded  this 
measure  of  beneGcience  and  justice  at  the  hands  nf  the 
Democratic  putty.  It  safely  passed  both  Houses  oil  the 
eve  of  the  Presidential  campaign  in  hoGO,  but  the  rul 
ing  class—  the  slave-holders—  demanded  that  it  should 
be  vetoed,  and  Buchanan  yielded  and  recorded  their 
veto—  being  the  only  one  ef  bis  administration.  Subse 
quently  all  the  public  lands  in  the  Southern  States. 


comprising  some  forty-six  millions  of  acres,  were 
brought  un^er  the  operation  of  the  homestead  act — 
limiting,  however,  for  two  years  the  amount  to  eighty 
acres  of  $1.25  and  (orty  acres  of  $'2.50  lands  to  each 
settler.  The  Hon.  Geo.  W.  Julian,  originated  this 
measure,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  landless  white 
end  colored  men  to  become  independent  of  the  large 
planters. 

Acts  were  also  passed  establishing  what  is  known  as 
the  Freedmnn's  Bureau,  for  Che  relief  of  the  destitute 
refugees  and  freedmen;  and  also,  a  joint  resolution, 
directing  that  preference  t-hould  be  given,  in  all  public 
employments,  to  the  honorably  discharged  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  the  late  war. 

Subsequently  the  eight  hour  law  was  enacted,  and 
the  United  States  in  its  corporate  capacity,  have  set 
the  example  of  exacting  but  eight  hours  work  from  its 
employees,  without  diminution  of  wages. 

In  no  other  country  of  the  world  have  the  workers 
so  much  political  influence;  nowhere,  and  at  no  lime 
have  they  eivoyed  so  many  elements  of  material,  in 
tellectual  ai<d  moral  deve'opments  as  here.  The  day's 
work  of  the  mechanic  buys  fully  twice  as  much  as  a 
day's  work  of  the  same  artisan  upon  the  continent  of 
I'urope;  so  tint  here,  if  anywhere,  the  experiment 
must  be  worked  out  of  making  the  laboring  classes 
the  equals  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  of  life,  and 
of  advancement  in  culture,  to  the  professional  nnd 
commercial  classes. 

FOR  GOOD  GOVERNMENT 

Solon  the  wise  Athenian  lawgiver,  in  describing  the 
happiest  man  of  his  times,  places  foremost,  as  the  firs,* 
element  of  his  buppiness.  tlsat  he  lived  in  Greece,! 
well-ordered  community.  This  lesson,  which  tb< 
father  of  historv,  Herodotus,  records,  ought  not  to  ti 
lost  upon  ourselves,  for  we  are  apt  to  underestimafc 
the  importance  of  the  fact,  that  without  good  govern 
ment  there  can  be  neither  national  nor  individual  pros 
peruv.  Therefore,  the  protection  of  the  purity  of  the 
ballot  and  the  enjoyment  of  persona)  security  ar» 
among  the  first  purposes  for  which  tree  governments 
were  instituted,  and  to  attain  this*  end  the  Republican 
party  hag  devised  varous  important  measures. 

In  July,  1861,  the  first  act  wa*  .signed,  looking 
towards  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  and  the  rc- 
sturution  of  the  personal  security  of  each  citizen  ;  and 
this  was  followed  by  no  leas  than  !w>  hundred  acts, 
known  as  war  measures,  and  designed  to  preserve  our 
precious  inheritance,  the  American  continent,  in  its 
entirety.  These  war  measures  alone  are  worthy  the 
historic  pen,  but  as  we  only  iotend  to  chronicle  the 
victories  of  peace,  we  pass  then)  b),  wvth  reluctance. 
Among  the  statutes,  especiaHv  designed  to  seeure  per 
sonal  freedom,  are  the  Freed  man's  Bureau  an  A  sevenA 
Civil  Rights'  bills.  One  act,  May  31,  187o,  enforces 
the  right  of  each  citizen  to  vote,  and  provides  penalties 
against  bribery,  threats,  interference,  or  iutimi<latioa 
of  persons  entitled  to  vote.  The  act  of  February  28tb, 
1871,  which  is  amendatory  thereto,  provides  fur  the 
punishment  of  false  registration,  frauds,  fraudulent 
election  returns  and  false  swearing. 

These  measures,  so  esential  to  good  government  and 


in  vvliicb  all  g.ood  citizens  are  vitally  interested,  have  I 
been  opposed  by  Vhe  Democracy  with  singular  vehe 
mence  and  virulence.  The  exploded  and  senseless 
States  Rights  doctrine  was  interposed,  as  if  it  were  not 
the  first  necessity  of  any  government  to  have  power  to 
devise  laws  for  its  self-preservation.  We  admit  that  it 
is  to  be  regretted  that  laws  against  the  Ku-Klux  and 
against  Tammany  election  frauds  are  necessary  ;  we 
deplore  the  want  of  patriotism  and  morals  which  ob 
tains  in  these  sections  of  the  country;  we  should 
greatly  prefer  that  lite  would  be  made  secure,  the  fran 
chise  safe,  and  the  ballot-box  pure  by  the  people  them 
selves  ;  but  if  in  these  ignorant  and  unpatriotic  com 
munities,  respect  for  life  and  for  the  Republic  has  died 
out,  no  measures  can  be  too  strong  to  repress  the  evil. 
A  government,  without  power  to  protect  life  and  the 
franchise  will,,  necessarily,  fall  to  pieces,  and  anarchy 
and  revolution  will,  in  due  time,  supercede  a  violated 
ballot-box. 

FOX  AG1UCULTU11E. 

A  majority  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  are 
engaged  in  the  independent  and  konorable  employment 
of  cultivating  the  soil.  There  are  about  two  millions 
Of  farms,  owned  by  their  occupants,  and  these  two 
millions  of  homes  are  the  center  of  general  intelligence, 
independence  of  thought,  patriotism,  attachment  to 
duty  and  devotion  to  the  highest  interests  of  civiiiza- 
tion.  These  men  are  preeminently  the  nobility  of  our 
Eepublic,  whose  aggregate  judgment,  calmly  and  in 
telligently  formed,  coastituies  one  of  its  main  supports. 

Before  the  sidveut  to  power  of  the  Republican  party, 
a  few  cleiks  and  laborers  were  employed  in  the  Inte 
rior  Department  to  distribute  large  quantities  ef  gar 
den  seeds.  These  seeds  were  bought  in  the  open 
Market,  and  distributed  indiscriminately  by  appor 
tionment  to  Members  of  Congress,  and  were,  more- 
^ver,  so  geueraily  of  bad  quality,  that  they  became  a 
^uisance  alike  to  the  sender  and  receiver.  In  May, 
$862,  notwithstanding  the  exigencies  of  the  war,  the 
Agricultural  Department  was  established ;  and  subse- 
^ueutly  removed  to  a  suitable  building,  surrounded  by 
j>ropag.^ing  gardens  and  conservatories.  For  some 
years  past  it  has  given  most  imporiaat  aid  to  agiicul- 
ture,  by  its  very  able  and  accurate  reports;  by  en 
couraging  agricultural  and  horticultural  associations; 
by  the  careful  distribution  for  trial  of  rare  setds  and 
new  grasses ;  and  by  its  etymological  researches.  The 
fact  that  the  late  Commissioner,  Mr.  Capron,  has  baen 
transferred  tc,  Japan,  to  organize  aud  teach  a  better 
system  of  agriculture  ui  the  Far  East,  is  a  very  high 
compliment,  not  only  to  him,  but  to  the  American  na 
tion.  That  our  light  should  shine  so  brightly  that 
even  the  nations  beywnd  the  Pacific  should  see  the 
blaze,  constitutes  a  complete  answer  to  critics  and  re 
porters,  whw  to  frequently  pass  an  ex  catliedra  opinion 
iipoQ  those  subjects  upon  which  they  are  most  pro 
foundly  tgnorant. 

The  establishment  of  Agricultural  colleges,  with 
Chemical  laboratories,  has  already  been  noted.  The 
increase  in  wealth  and  general  prosperity  of  the  farm 
ing  class  has  been  very  marked  during  the  last  tea 
years- 


The  improvement*  in  rural  architecture  have  been 
very  great,  and  the  charming  villas  whicb  meet  the 
eye  of  the  traveler  in  the  North  and  West  are  expres 
sive  of  taste  and  culture.  This  general  prosperity  is 
owing,  in  great  part,  to  the  fostering  care  of  the  Gene 
ral  Government.  The  agricultural  interest  almo&t 
entirely  escapes  taxation;  it  having  been  the  policy 
not  to  tax  either  the  raw  products  or  the  producer. 
It  is  laughable  to  hear  some  limb  of  the  law,  circula 
ting  through  the  country  about  election  time,  telling  the 
farmers  th  ;t  '*  they  are  groaning  under  the  load  of  tax 
ation,"  "that  every  thing  they  use  pays  enormous  con 
tributions  to  grasping  iron,  sak,  and  copper  monopo 
lies,"  &c.,  repeating  this  wind-chopping  process  as 
long  as  any  one  will  listen.  The  truth  is,  the  farmer 
feels  national  taxation  very  lightly,  and  we  state  this, 
not  to  propitiate  this  class,  but  as  a  matter  of  fact; 
because  no  patriotic  citizen  shrinks  from  paying  & 
proper  share  ot  necessary  taxation.  Let  us  illustrate; 
Salt  is  taxed  about  fifteen  cents  a  bushel — hew  much 
salt  does  an  average  family  use  per  year?  say  five 
bashels — that  is  7ft  cents.  Iron  is  taxed  one  cent  per 
pound.  How  much  iron  does  the  farmer  consume  per 
year?  Estimated  at  two  hundred  pounds,  he  pays  two 
dollars.  Copper  is  taxed  about  fifteen  cents  per  pound, 
and  if  any  one  should  purchase  a  copper  kettle  he  pays, 
perhaps,  fifty  cents  tax  on  copper  in  a  life-time.  Sugar 
is  taxed  about  two  cents  per  pound.  Two  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  per  year  is  a  large  allowance— and 
this  makes  five  dollars.  Now,  when  we  consider  that 
the  taxes  raised  annually  amount  to  three  hundred  mil 
lions,  the  average  contribution  of  a  reasonably  ecoRom- 
ical  farmer's  family  is  very  small  indeed.  Then  in 
addition,  they  enjoy  the  blessings  of  a  uniform  and 
safe  currency,  and  a  steady  advance  in  the  value  of 
their  improvements. 

FOR  COMMERCE. 

The  stats  of  our  internal  commerce  is  satisfactory. 
A  number  of  great  measures  have  been  devised  during 
the  past  ten  years  for  its  encouragement  and  enlarge 
ment.  In  July  1866,  a  verv  important  act  was  passed, 
known  as  the  steamboat  inspection  law,  which  has  had 
a  remarkable  effect  upon  the  personal  security  of 
steamboat  passengers.  It  is  true  disasters  happen 
eve-n  now,  whicb  greater  fidelity  and  care  might  ob 
viate  ;  but  boiler  explosions  have  become  so  rare  that 
travel  by  steamship  is  no  more  hazardous  that  travel 
ing  by  rail. 

The  Light-House  Board  has  not  only  relighted  th« 
lights  upon  our  coasts,  which  the  rebels,  with  their 
characteristic  love  of  darkness,  put  out,  but  built  other 
light-houses  upon  our  immense  lake  and  ocean  shores. 
The  Coast  Survey  has  pursued  its  peaceful  course,  sup 
plying  the  mariner  with  accurate  charts  of  all  the 
dangers  of  navigation  on  our  coast.  The  Hydrographic 
Bureau  of  the  Navy  Department,  has  furnished  superior 
ocean  charts  for  the  first  time;  for  until  recently  aU 
our  ships  were  navigated  by  imported  charts. 

Ihree  railways  to  the  Pacific  have  been  chartered. 
The  Central  has  been  aided  by  money  and  laud;  the 
Northern  by  lands  only;  and  the  Southern,  which  lies 
principally  in  Texas,  wkich  owns  all  the  public  lands. 


within  its  boundary,  bas  only  reoeired  a  charter  and 
right  of  way.  \Vliatever  criticism  may  be  passed 
upon  the  large  money  grant  to  the  Centra)  Pacific  rail- 
w&v.  this  fact  remains,  that  it  was  a  necessity  to  our 
continued  peaceful  relations  with  the  Pacific  States, 
which  were  being  alienated  in  interest;  and  that  it  has 
been  a  wonderful  achievement.  '1  he  construction,  of 
this  road,  virtually,  from  New  York  to  San  Francisco- 
over  three  thousand  miles  in  length — belongs  to  those 
fabulous  accomplishments,  whose  magnitude  tends  to 
preveut  their  full  recognition  until  time  has  embalmed 
them,  'ihese  railways,  and  their  numerous  branches, 
have  pushed  civilization  five  hundred  miles  westward 
in  a  few  years,  until  it  nestles  in  the  valleys  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains. 

More  than  ten  thousand  new  post-offices  have  b^en 
Opened  ;  the  money  order  system  established  ;  treaties 
negotiated  for  the  transmission  of  small  sums  of 
money  to  the  principal  nations  of  Europe;  and  tele 
graphic  facilities  extended.  Several  ocean  cables  have 
been  laid  through  the  intelligent  perseverence  of 
American  citizens,  aided  by  American  enterprise  and 
the  chartered  .-auction  of  our  government. 

But  chief  among  the  great  aids  to  commerce  is  the 
system  of  National  Batiks.  U  ho  does  not  recollect 
the  nuisance  siuj  loss  to  the  traveling  public  of  an  ir- 
respousi'ole  State  Bank  currency,  wh«se  value  changed 
not  only  from  day  to  day  but  between  Suite  lines? 
Who  has  escaped  the  innumerable  robberies  by  coun 
terfeits,  (a  counterfeit  detector  being  a  necessity  to 
every  business  man,)  by  broken  banks;  by  old  banks 
revived;  by  new  ones  sUirted  by  scoundrels  who  paid 
black-mail  to  the  counterfeit  detector  publishers  to 
rate  th-em  good  u-util  their  currency  had  gained  circu 
lation?  U  iio  do* s  not  know  of  the  frightiul  disasters 
of  18i>7  and  1S.~>7 — and  the  ever  recurnnjj  minor  <_r.ses, 
of  a  Bank  system  which  promised  to  redeem  in  gold  when 
no  one  cared  for  it.  but  which  always  suspended  pay 
ment  when  the  gold  was  wanted.  If  the  Republican 
party  had  devised  no  other  measure  m  beha  i  of  gene 
ral  business  prosperity— this  great  unifying  act  aloue 
tvould  entitle  it  to  universal  gratitude. 

We  adm.t  that  the  rebellion  caused  the  destruct:cu 
of  our  foreign  commerce;  and  before  it  could  be  re 
built,  the  material  <.f  which  the  keels  of  ships  were 
constructed,  changed  from  wood,  in  which  we  excelled, 
to  iron,  for  which  change  we  were  not  prepared.  'I  hat 
this  coiiiiiurce  must  be  rev.ved  there  can  be  no  doubt; 
and  various  measures  are  pending  to  accomplish  this 
purpose.  It  is  not  merely  a  great  pecuniary  loss,  but 
a  loss  of  national  prestige,  thut  our  flag  Covers  not  a 
single  European  liue  ;  and  that,  if  these  foreign  .cor- 
poratious  we.e,  for  an}'  reason,  to  withdraw  then1  ships, 
we  wouid  be  compelled  to  carry  our  mail  ,  and  travel 
to  Europe  iu  sailing  vessels.  We  have  full  confidence 
that  this  uupropitious  state  of  affairs  will  be  remedied 
before  this  Congress  exp  res,  and  that  the  starry  bau- 
uer,  the  most  beautiful  tiag  yet  devised,  will  again  be 
wafted  upon  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

FOR  RIVER  AND  HARBOR  IMPROVEMENTS. 

Y.'hen  the  Whig  and  Democratic  panics  contended 
for  ascendancy  the  question  of  Uiver  and  Harbor  im 
provemeuu  was  of  great  prominence.  Ii  was  part  oi 
what  was  known  as  "iieury  Clay's  American  Sybtein." 
The  Democrats,  under  lha  influence  of  ihealave-holders 
who  hated  commerce,  interposed  hair-splitting  con 
stitutional  objections,  and  the  pitiful  sum  of  a  few 
thousand  dollars,  absolutely  needed  for  harbors  o:' 
national  importance,  waa  refused.  Su»ce  the  lijpubli 
can  party  came  into  power  there  have  been  expeudec 
iroin  four  to  five  millions  per  year;  and  under  trie  new 
regulation,  which  appropriates  specific  sums  for  par 
ticular  objects,  (in  place  of  giving  a  gross  sum  to  the 
War  Department  to  use  at  its  own  discretion,)  the  ex 
penditures  have  brought  about  such  excellent  results, 
that  all  opposition  has  been  abandoned.  Thus,  one  o 
thepetpiauks  in  the  Democratic  platform,  is  now  as 


dead  as  the  old  Democracy  itsa'f.  It  is  true  the  aggre 
gate  expenditures  of  the  Government  are  attacked,  Hit 
ill  specific  opposition  to  river  and  harbor  improvements 
has  been  abandoned. 

This  money  expended  iu  aid  of  navigation,  benefits 
our  citizens  every wh  re;  for  all  those  W!H>  sell  pro 
duce  or  purchase  goods  share  in  the  ad  ravages,  be 
cause  easy  transportation  cheapen:*  purchases,  an  !  aug 
ments  the  price.-  paid  for  raw  products.  Thus  has  been 
quietly  settled  one  of  those  former  vexations  political 
controversies,  and  the  nation  placed  iu  the  channel  <;f 


Life-saving  stations  are  als^  maintained  upon  the 
most  exposed  poiivs  on  our  shores,  so  that  the  maridiefa 
from  all  nations,  may  receive  succor  in  cus  •  of  ch.  aster. 
This  is  onlv  one  of  the  many  evidences  eropu  -!'g  out 
in  every  direction,  that  the  Bepnbl'Oafl  party  values 
human  life  more  than  money;  and  that  tu»  LaitMvrund 
selfish  views  control  its  po  icy. 

OUIt  FOREIGN    POLICE. 

During  the  last  ten  years  the  pub'  it1  peace  has  b3£U 
rnai-  tained  without  loss  of  national  prestige  or  dignity. 
Napoleon  committed  his  first  great  error  when  he  ia- 
vaded  Mexico;  but  Seward  bo.ved  him  out  with  hia 
usual  suavity.  A  little  petul  mce  like  that  displayed  by 
the  German  Emperor,  would  have  forced  Napoleon  to 
fight,  and  we  might  have  had  an  expensive  war  to 
achieve  the  same  result  which  tact  and  patience  accom 
plished. 

'ihe  Trent  controversy,   which    gave  the    I  nghsh 
Tories  the  sought  tor  opportunity  to  br-ng  on  a 
was  skilliully  conducted;  and  llie  Alabama  <;•: 
has  subsequently  been  managed  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  American  public.     It  is  true,  unexpected  ob.--Ui.cIof> 
have  been  raK-ed  by  Great  Britain,  but  we  are  still  cau- 
tidein  that  they  will  be  s  -tisfactonly  a  justed.     Com- 
nitTcialand  Postal  treaties  have  been  made  wilh  nearly 
all  the  nations  upon  the  globe,  and  the  average  rales  of 
postage  reduced  one  halt'. 

But  pieeminently  has  our  states  man  sh  5  1>  sUoae  forth 
in  the  Far  East.  Japan  had  been  closvd  to  all  the 
world  until  the  doors  were  opened  to  the  Uniuid  Suites. 
This  great  change  of  policy  almost  lead  to  a  revolution  ; 
but  the  statesmen  that  now  coairoi  the  government  of 
Japan  are  wise  and  progressive,  and  u;il  welcome 
American  principles  and  ideas. 

'I  he  United  State's  was,  moreover,  the  first  power  that 
introduced  China  among  tne  sisterhood  of  c.vihzed 
nations;  and  it  was  a  former  Ammic-i'i  ombasiukdor. 
Mr.  Buriingame,  who  accomplished  this  great  result, 
China,  hereafter,  promises  to  be  buMKi  by  th^-  Inter 
national  law  of  Christian  nations;  i:»d  claims  also  its 
many  benefits.  Our  influence  over  As  a,  is  greater 
thin  that  of  England  or  faissia  for  ii  is  purely  moral- 
it,  is  that  of  a  friend  and  pei.ce-lonng  neighbor,  in 
stead  of  a  war-like  and  intriguing  sirauger  or 


FOR  THE   COLORED   MAN. 

The  principal  measures  for  the  abolition  of  Hhrery 
and  for  the  security  of  his  persona  1,  civil  and  political 
rights  having  already  been  noted,  ue  onl_y  add  that  he 
owes  every  thing  —  liberty,  security  and  en'rane.ase- 
meut  to  the  Kepublicau  party.  It  has  svemmed  the. 
tide  of  brutality  and  prejudice  which  thr  t^-j 
overwhelm  him  subsequently  to  bis  enrtauc  patiuti;  4 
has  expended  a  number  of  millions  of  do  1  law  fur  Irs 
educat'on  and  support;  it  uphol  is  h.ru  to  d.iy,  as  far 
as  w.thiu  its  power,  in  all  liisjust  rights.  The  over 
throw  of  the  Republican  party  would  result  in  bis 
practical  disfranchisemeat;  us  he  well  understands. 
it  is  true  the  Kepublican  party  ha>  stwod  by  him  upon 
principle,  for  the  vindication  of  human  rights  and  good 
government,  it  has  not  enfranchised  him  to  obtain  hia 
t-uppon,  blind!?  and  without  enqu.ry  ;  but  it.  does  ex 
pect  that  he  will  zealously  uphold  his  new-born  rights, 
and  for  that  end  be  energetic  iu  the  support  of  the  good 
cause.  No  perils  or  efforts  to  intimidate  ought  to  pro- 


rent  the  colored  men  from  making  all  reasonable  ex 
ertions  ia  support  of  tbose  questions  in  which  they  are 
EO.ritally  interested. 

FOR  THE  INDIANS. 

The  savage  tribes  of  American  Indtass,  who  have 
for  years  subsisted  upon  bunting  and  plunder,  arc  cer 
tainly  not  promising  subjects  for  beneficial  legislation. 
.The  "public  sentiment  in  the  Far  West  demands  their 
extermination,  and  not  entirely  without  cause.  The 
horrible  tortures  to  which  Indians  subject  their  vic 
tims,  and  the  mutilation  which  they  inflict  upon  tbeir 
bodies,  have  inspired  universal  indignation  and  a  crav 
ing  desire  for  vengeance. 

'Ihese  Indiana,  moreover,  are  without  representation 
and  political  inllueuce,  so  that,  whatever  is  done  fir 
them,  cannot  be  ascribed  to  selfish  motives.  Under 
cover  of  this  hostile  sentiment  a  number  of  Indian 
'agents,  contractors,  sutlers  and  other  adventurers  had 
formed  "rinirs"  or  organizations  to  plunder  these  ig 
norant  and  practically  dumb  savages;  who  only  felt 
that  those  whites  with  whwrn  they  came  in  contact 
were  such  faithless  scoundrels,  that  their  own  treachery 
became  excusable. 

For  the  purpose  a.  breaking  np  this  system,  radical 
remedies  were  devised,  and  Peace  Commissioners  were 
appointed  representing  the  best  elements  of  various 
Christian  denominations  toassist'n  the  superintendence 
ql  Indian  affairs.  The  p  reseat  Commissioner,  Gen' I. 
Francis  A.  Walker,  is  a  high-toned  Christian  gentle 
man  of  unimpeachable  integrity  and  of  very  decided 
executive  ubilitv.  The  Indian  ring  has  been  broken 
up;  rations  are  being  issued  t-j  beads  of  families  in 
stead  of  to  tr.bes,  which  has  resulted  in  very  great 
economy;  the  Indians  have  been  placed  upon  smaller 
and  more  easily  accessible  reservations;  devoted  mis 
sionaries  have  been  actively  at  work;  and  the  peace 
has  been  very  generally  maintained.  This  has  been 
the  first  earnest  effort  to  reclaim  these  savages,  or,  at 
least,  their  children,  thus  saving  them  from  inevitable 
detraction.  Thus  far  these  efforts  have  met  with  bet 
ter  success  than  even  the  most  sanguine  expected,  but 
should  the  new  policy  fail,  it  will  not  detract  from  the 
credit  which  is  due  to  its  originators.  Kindness,  con 
sideration  and  justice  shown  to  the  most  benighted 
and  unfortunate  inhabitants  of  the4  Republic  charac 
terizes  our  country  fur  more  as  a  "Christian"  land, 
than  written  assertions  of  dogmatic  creed  in  the  Natio 
nal  Cons'Huiion. 

Unselfish  regard  for  thr  interests  and  happiness  of 
all  classes;  charity,  education,  tree  homes,  a  free  pul 
pit  and  a  free  press,  constitute  the  essence  of  religious 
life,  und  afford  the  highest  possible  evidence  that  the 
philanthropic  elements  of  society  coutrc-l  the  destiny 
of  tho  nation. 

FOU  THE  EX-REBELS. 

The  student,  cf  history  well  knows  that  the  suppres 
sion  by  the  regular  government  of  extensive  rebellions 
\ya.s  always  accompanied  by  numerous  butcheries,  exe 
cutions,  £.nd  expatriations,  'j  he  histories  of  Russia, 
Austria,  Prussia,  Italy,  Franc^,  Spain  and  England, 
tell  the  same  blood  v  story.  The  executions  after  the 
late  communistic  revolt  in  Paris  were  numerous  and 
for  three  days  the  soldiers  were  encouraged  to  kill  at 
sight  tr.y  and  all  of  the  fleeing  wretches  they  could 
find  Our  own  rebellion  was  surpressed  without  a 
single  execution  »r  act  of  oppression.  We  makr  this 
statement  us  a  matter  of  fact,  not  that  we,  alt  g<  therx 
approve  this  great  magnanim  ty,  wlrch  ha*  never  been 
appri  elated,  but  misconstrued  into  cowardice  by  the 
{•K-frebe's ;  but.  if  the  nation  was  wrong  i-n  this  respect, 
i;  trrtid  on  ;he  side  of  iorgiveness  ai>d  bn  the>  ly  love. 
Froia  ihe  day  of  Lee's  surrender  to  the  great  Chieftain 
of  the  Republic,  every  measure  parsed  by  the  General 
Govern  men  l  has  been  designed  to  benefit  the  rebels, 
rfbd  lo  encourage  them  to  become  faithful  citizens  once 
U^t>re.  Not  only  were  their  lives  spared  and  their 
•-ruperty  r.ot  confiscated,  but  all  special  taxes  were 


speedily  removed.  During  the  war,  cotten  was  taxed 
three  cents  per  pound,  but  this  tax  was  speedily  re 
duced  and  finally  abolished,  'ihe  rebellion  increased 
the  annual  expenditures  of  the  government  from 
sevepty  to  three  hundred  millions  of  dollars.  The 
South  not  only  paid  no  taxes  during  the  war,  whea 
more  than  a  thousand  millions  were  contributed  by  the 
loyal  people,  but  the  tax  paying  capacity  of  that  sec 
tion  wns  so  reduced  by  the  rebellion,  that  the  amounts 
paid  since  the  restoration  of  peace  have  been  exceed 
ingly  small.  Cotton  was  the  only  production  which 
would  have  brought  a  considerable  amount  into  the 
Treasury,  and  bv  the  abolition  of  the  cotton  tax,  the 
South  has  gained  almost  entire  immunity  from  taxa 
tion. 

These  ex-rebels  have  been  re-invested  with  the  right 
of  citizenship,  and  with  insignificant  exceptions,  they 
were  amnestied,  'ihey  were  again  admitted  as  co-ru 
lers,  and  their  new  State  Constitutions  made  more  con 
formable  to  the  demands  of  education  and  civilization.. 

When  the  cry  of  distress  reached  Congress  that  tiie 
people  were  starving,  relief  was  granted  to  the  amount 
of  tive  millions  of  dollars  alike  to  whites  and  blacks; 
a  joint  resolution  passed  Congress  in  February,  1867, 
placing  our  ships-of-war  at  the  disnosalof  the  charita 
ble  to  carry  provisions  to  Charleston,  Savannah,  and 
Mobile.  In  May,  1807,  another  joint  resolution  grant 
ed  specific  relief  to  the  destitute  people  of  the  south 
western  Slates. 

Thus  have  these  men,  notwithstanding  their  persist 
ent  hostility  and  treasonable  practices,  been  clothed, 
fed  and  protected  by  a  generous  and  humane  people; 
and  if  they  could  only  so  far  rise  above  sectional  preju 
dice,  as  to* take  hold  of  the  National  Government,  and 
regard  it  as  their  best  friend  and  protector,  they  could 
at  once  rescue  their  States  from  misrule  and  corruption. 
It  is  they  who  close  the  door  and  exclude  themselves 
from  power  and  National  influence  ;  it  is  they  who  keep 
back  emigration  and  wealth  by  acts  of  violence  ;  it  is 
they  who  ar^  the  architects  of  their  own  discontent  and 
misfortunes.  Why  do  they  not  grasp  the  brotherly 
hand  so  kindly  extended?  Why  not  seek  relief 
through  the  dominant  party  that  can  grant  it,  instead 
of  growling  and  snarling  in  a  hopeless  minority. 

In  so  far  as  the  Democratic  party  encourages  this 
hatred  to  the  national  government  tor  partizun  ends; 
in  so  far  as  it  induces  these  ignorant  people  to  persist 
in  Ku-Klux  violence ;  in  so  far  as  it  upholds  the  abuse 
of  the  colored  workingman,  who  would  gladly  build 
up  that  section,  if  permitted  ;  it  is  the  worst  enemy 
that  the  ex-rebels  have.  For,  should  the  patience  and 
forbearance  of  the  North  become  exhausted  by  con 
tinuous  disregard  of  the  rights  of  Northern  citizens; 
and  by  criminal  and  cowardly  midmght  attacks  upon 
thei-r  unoffending  associates  ;"  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus 
may  again  be  suspended  and  traitors  receive  speedy 
justice  by  means  of  a  drum-head  court  martial. 

All  ex-rebels,  who  are  legally  entitled  to  vole,  cart 
abuse  that,  sacred  privilege  if  they  choose.  They  ca-n 
ally  themselves  with  the  party  of  mental  darkness  and 
reaction,  as  they  have  hitherto  done,  but  they  must  be 
made  to  respect  the  rights  of  others.  The  system  of 
terrorism  prevailing  in  some  sections  must  be  broken 
up  at  all  hazard  and  at  every  cost 

FOR  THE  NATURALIZED  CITIZEN. 

The  United  States  of  America  is  the  home  of  refuge 
of  the  oppressed  of  all  nations.  No  other  nation  ia 
the  world  admits  foreigners  on  so  easy  terms  to  share 
the  governing  power.  The  political  refugees  find  here 
a  sate  ass\lum.  No  Monarchical  nation  has  ever  had 
the  audacitv  to  demand  the  return  of  a  Ueiker,  a  Siegel, 
a  Meaner,  or  a  Mitchell.  The  workingmen  find  this 
a  paradise  of  material  comfort,  for  industry  and  rea 
sonable  economy  result  in  the  rapid  accumulation  of 
wealth.  UpoiTthe  Euiopean  continent  a  laborer  is 
always  a  laborer,  a  servant  always  a  servant,  ilia  chil 
dren*  moreover,  are  compelled  to  share  with  him  his 


social  sufcus,  so  that  it  is  very  rarely,  and  onVjrby  some 
peculiar  fortune,  that  the  child  of  the  artisan  can  enter 
the  ranks  of  the  nobility  or  professional  classes;  whUe 
in  the  United  States  it  is  the  rule,  that  citizens,  born  in 
'bo  most  humble  circumstances,  like  Jackson  and  Lin- 
Coin,  receive  the  highest  offices  and  consideration. 

For  many  years  a  great  majority  of  our  foreign-born 
citizens  attached  themselves  to  the  Democratic  party. 
In  grasping  at  the  shadow  of  a  popular  name  they  be 
came,  in  fact,  the  allies  of  the  elave-holders  and  op 
pressors  of  humanity.  In  time  the  most  intelligent 
disassociated  themselves  from  the  army  ot  darkness 
and  reaction,  and  have  faithfully  labored  in  the  rinks 
of  liberalism  and  progress.  Special  efforts  are  again 
made  to  induce  these  naturalized  citizang,  and  particu 
larly  those  of  German  descent,  to  join  hands  once  more 
with  the  Tammany  and  Ku-Klux  Democracy.  The 
pretest  is  "Reform,"  but  the  practice  would  be  Tam 
many  corrupuon.  The  impudent  claim  is  set  up  that 
n  few  hundred  Republican  deserters  contain  all  tho 
honesty  of  the  Republican  party  ;  and  that  this  com- 
binatio'n  of  deserters,  ex-rebel3  and  Tammany  Demo 
crats,  if  successful,  would  usher  in  a  new  era  of  econo 
my  and  reform. 

'For  many  years  the  Democratic  party  was  in  power, 
and  that  too,  chiefly  through  means  of  the  support  it 
received  from  naturalized  citizens.  Did  it  give  them 
:.he  Homestead  bill*  Did  it  encourage  American  labor 
toy  a  judicious  tar.ff?  Did  it  confer  up  m  them  any  place 
of  responsibility  ?  Did  it  not  always  treat  them  iiko  in 
feriors  and  voting  cattle?  Did  it  protect  them  by  treaty 
from  beirg  impressed  for  military  duty  when  they 
visited  their  former  homes?  Did  cot  the  proscriptive 
public  opinion  engendered  by  (ha  slave  system,  also 
cause  the  Knownothing  persecutions?  It  is  true,  the 
Democrats,  who  profited  exclusively  by  the  foreign 
rotrt,  opposed  Knovrnothingism,  but  merely  as  a  mat 
ter  of  interest  and  not  upon  principle.  This  they  could 
not  do:  But  since  the  Republican  party,  with  its  lib- 
oral  programme,  "  the  world  is  our  country  and  all 
mankind  our  countrymen,"  came  into  power,  Know- 
nothingism  has  ceased,  not  merely  us  a  matter  of  fact, 
but  what  is  of  far  greater  consequence,  as  a  sentiment. 
In  the  brief  reign  of  the  Republican  party,  treaties 
have  been  made  with  all  the  Luropean  powers  whose 
subjects  have,  in  large  numbers,  emigrated,  providing 
that  if  any  emigrant,  though  he  was  of  military  age 
when  emigrating,  has  become  a  naturalized  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  he  may  return  to  his  former  home 
and  stay  there  for  five  rears  before  the  military  laws  of 
bis  former  country  re-attach.  The  provision  of  tire 
years  was  adopted  because  it  was  claimed  thr.t  many 
parents  might  send  their  youths  to  the  United  States 
to  remain  there  five  tears  and  become  citizens  for  the 
very  purpose  of  evading  military  service.  This  Clause 
is  o*f  no  importance  to  the  born) \  fide  American  citizen, 
against  whom,  if  he  never  gains  a  residence  in  En- 
tope,  the  limitation  does  cot  run. 

For  many  years,  during  Democratic  rule,  the  tide  of 
immigration  has  poured  into  the  United  States,  yet 
never  did  that  party  do  any  thing  for  the  protection  of 
emigrants  while  in  tranxitu.  They  may  be  abutted 
upon  tho  ship ;  they  may  be  furnished  with  rotten 
meat,  and  badly  cooked  food ;  they  may  be  overcrowd 
ed  ;  they  may  be  kept  upon  extra  trains  upon  railway- 
cars  without  warmth  or  water  for  a  week,  and  there  is 
no  law  upon  the  statute  book  which  can  give  them  jus 
tice.  « 

It  is  tcue  the  State  of  New  York  taxes  them  one  dol 
lar  and-a-ha!f,  which  money  is  chiefly  expended  In 
salanss  for  the  Castle  Ganden  officials.  The  Tammany 
Hall  Emigrant  Commission  has  licensed  a  set  of  low 
and  disreputable.  Bourding-house  keepers  to  solicit 
emigrants  to  stop  with  them.  These  places  overflow 
^ith  filth  jvr.d  vermin  ;  they  are  the  recruiting  places 
tor  prostitutes  and  illegal  voters;  and  few  emigrants 
ever  leave  them  without  being  swindled. 
The  present  Administration  is  de«iro-ui  to  abolish 


these  abuses.  Secretary  Boutwell  sent  an  experienced 
gentleman  to  Europe,  and  to  New  York,  to  thoroughly 
investigate  the  emigration  system.  The  President,  in 
his  message,  urged  upon  Congress  immediate  action", 
and  there  is  no  doubt,  but  a  comprehensive  measure 
drafted  under  the  awpicea  of  the  Treasury  Depart 
ment,  and  intruducwd  by  that  excellent  practical  legis 
lator,  0.  D.  Conger,  of  Michigan,  will  becomo  a  law. 
Then,  for  the  first  time,  the  emigrant  will  f.cl  the  pro 
tecting  care  of  the  Government  of  tho  United  States. 
These  matters  are  of  vital  importance  tu  the  emi 
grant,  and  he  ought,  therefore,  to  exieud  to  the  politl* 
cal  organization,  which  has  taken  so  great  an  interest 
in  his  welfare,  his  earutut  t-ui»:>u«  \. 

FOB  NATIONAL  PROGRESS. 

Since  the  close  of  the  war,  taxation  has  been  reduced 
by  successive  acts,  equal  to  an  annual  average  of  two 
hundred  and  thirty-five  millions  of  dollars.  In  the 
game  timo  the  latest  official  public  debt  statement 
shows  that  upwards  ot  three  hundred  millions  of  dol 
lars  of  the  public  debt  have  been  paid  during  the  last 
three  years.  The  act  refunding  the  public  dent  at  a 
lower  rate  of  interest — converting  200  millions  of  dol 
lars  from  six  per  cent  into  fixe  per  cent  bonds — has 
been  successfully  carried  out.  No  doubt  the  balance 
of  the  loan  can  also  ba  thus  converted,  and  perhaps 
at  even  more  advantageous  rates.  The  National  ef- 
penditures  have  been  steadily  reduced,  and  new  sys 
tems  of  accountability  adopted.  Every  d'-sbursing'of- 
ficer  is  now  obliged  to  send  in  a  weekly  balance  sheet, 
showing  the  amount  deposited  and  where,  the  amount 
disbursed,  and  l.h«  balance  on  hand  The  Assistant 
Treasurers  and  National  Depositories  are  obliged  fo 
make  similar  returns,  and  a  comparison  by  competent 
oificers  will  speedily  lend  to  the  discovery  of  fraud. 
Every  effort  has  been  made  to  expel  unworthy  men 
from  the  civil  service,  and  it  more  thin  the  usual  num 
ber  (  f  frauds  have  been  discovered  the  pastyuar  it  ?3 
owing  loan  increase  of  watchfulness  ami  more  earnest 
efforts.  At  the  close  of  Johnson's  Adii.ioistratian,  a 
one  hundered dollar  United  States 6  percent  bond  tvas 
worth  but  $8'^  in  gold,  while  it  is  uow  worth  $101. 
Our  currency  was  twenty  per  cent  below  pur,  it  is  now 
but  10  per  cent,  and  constantly  appreciating. 

All  the  interests  of  civilization  have  received  atten 
tion.  Ihe  Army  Signal  Corps  has  been  employed  to 
indicate  coming  storms  and  the  probability  of  tb<3 
weather,  and  these  reports  have  reached  an  accuracy 
so  great,  that  it  is  the  universal  testimony  that  mari 
ners  and  agriculturalists  ba«e  been  greatly  banefitied. 
Commissioners  were  appointee}  to  a  general  conference 
to  be  held  in  London,  ut  which,  all  civilized  powers 
will  be  represented,  to  discuss  Scutes'  Prison  reform. 
The  Statistical  Bureau  has  issued  a  book  of  great  vain?, 
cot  only  to  the  emigrant,  but  to  our  cit  zens  generally 
who  may  contemplate  a  change  of  residence.  Said 
book  gives  detailed  information  ot  the  price  of  lands 
and  the  value  ot  labor  in  all  sections  of  tho  country, 
aud  has  been  in  so  great  demand  that  private  partJea 
have  purchased  a  number  of  thousand  copies. 

Of  a!l  human  efforts  to  hand  down  the  stream  of  time 
evideucea  of  taste  and  civilization,  architecture  has 
held  the  highest  rank.  We  sraud  with  wondrous  awe 
within  the  colossal  monuments  of  the  middle  ages, 
that  overwhelm  by  their  gigantic  proportions  all  sur 
rounding  modern  objects.  If  the  traveler  first  views 
the  majestic  dome  of  Cologne,  all  other  bsildings  in 
that  city  seem  cheap  and  tawdry.  A  timilar  impres 
sion  of  the  gmiid  architectural  conceptions  or  the 
miiHle  ages  is  produced  by  the  cathedrals  cf  St.  Paul 
in  London,  and  St.  Peter  in  Rome,  aud  the  cathedrals 
of  Strassburg  and  Brussels.  In  the  United  States, 
where  we  Imve  no  need  cf  imperial  palaces,  and  no 
State  Church,  architects  re  can  only  be  exhibited  in  its 
highest  form  in  our  public  buildings.  No  private  cor 
poration  can  afLrd  to  erect  monuments  of  that  dura 
bihty  aud  imposing  character  that  will  be  a  witness  ot 
oar  times  five  centuries  hence. 


8 


But  church  and  palace  architecture  are  not  applica 
ble  to  our  public  edifices,  wnicb  need  an  abundance  of 
light  and  other  pecul  ar  facilities.  In  the  new  Post 
Office  build  ngs  tit  Boj>ton  and  New  York,  all  these  con 
ditions  huve  been  realized.  At  a  small  expenditure, 
JQ  fac',  exceedingly  small  when  compared  with  the 
money  waited  on  (he  architectural  abortions  of  the 
New  York  Cay  Court  House,  the  Custom  House  at 
New  Orleans,  and  other  similar  structures,  edifices  are 
ia  the  course  of  construction,  more  colossal  and  im 
posing  than  any  upon  the  American  continent,  and  yet 
perfectly  adapted  to  the  public  use.  'Ihese  architec 
tural  monuin  -uts  will  uot  only  be  an  evidence  to  the 
European  mind  of  the  genius  and  skill  of  American 
architects  and  artisans  and  monuments  to  future  gene 
rations  ;  bat  teachers  of  correct  taste  and  due  appre 
ciation  of  the  grand  and  beautiful. 

THB   PROPOSED   LABOR  COMMISSION. 

The  Labor  Commission  project  which  has  passed  the 
House,  will,  i  ndoubted  y  become  a  law  ;  and  if  an  able 
and  piactical  Comurssiou  is  appointed,  who  will  ad 
dress  themselves  to  the  great  question  of  ascertaining 
in  what  way  legislation  may  benefit  the  workiugman, 
we  have  secured  the  first  and  most  essential  condition 
of  progress.  Thf  President,  we  are  reliably  inf  irmed, 
takes  a  special  and  personal  interest  in  all  measures 
designed  to  benefit  the  workingmen,  to  which  clas^  he 
hiinse;!  belongs,  and  of  his  faithful  co-operation,  there 
can  bo  no  doubt. 

CONCLUSION. 

This  summary  of  the  achievements  of  the  Republi 
can  party  shows,  that  iu  every  department  of  legisla 
tive  a.'  '*  ''ty,  »t  has  been  on  the  side  of  humanity  ;  and 
a  ca/  ^xanunati  m  of  the  voluminous  statutes  eu- 
actt1;  '**ag  the  past  ten  years,  enables  usj  to  testify 
th*'J '/'/«  and  every  statute  enacted  has  had  a  progres- 
?  Xy  '  'ndc.ncy.  Men  whose  thoughts  range  beyond 
V  /  ines  und  party  possibilities  and  who  only  view 
iv^-w.^  as  means  toward  ends,  may  hold  that  upon 
''  uestions  a  more  radical  course  would  have  been 
and  that  the  activities  of  the  party  might  have 
blened  to  a  greater  range  of  subjects;  but  examina- 
4on  Will  bring  to  them  the  conviction,  that,  whenever 
the  party  has  acted,  its  actions  have  been  uniformly 
progressive  and  patriotic.  There  is  not  even  one  diso- 
nant  note  to  mar  the  general  harmony. 

Nor  has  this  record  been  made  without  virulent  op- 
pOsition.  As  the  uation  moved  on  with  a  current  as 
irresistible  us  that  of  the  Father  of  Rivers,  the  ho  tile 
elements  became  more  blind  with  rage,  more  maddened 
With  anger.  On  every  roll  caliin  both  Houses  of  Con 
gress  will  be  found  the  same  stubborn  array  of  oppo 
sition  names.  80  uniform  was  this  negation,  that 
Senator  Salisbury,  after  his  term  had  expired  and  the 
new  rieuute  hai  organized,  forgetting  that  he  was  no 
longer  a  meuibs.  r,  rose  once  more  with  "  Mr.  President 
I  object." 

But  as  these  parliamentaryobjectionswere  over-borne 
by  the  collective  will  of  the  nation,  this  deadly  hostility 
to  progress  took  another  tin  u.  First  it  was  rebellion, 
earned  on  with  merciless  cruelty  ror  four  years  ;  and 
When  the  ivbel  flag  SVMS  driven  from  the  tie'ld  by  Gen. 
Griul  with  his  army  of  brave  and  hercic  men,  it  de 
veloped  into  assassination.  President  Lincoln,  the 
true  Representative  of  the  Republ  c  universal,  honest, 
rnagnai  imons,  patient  and  forgiving,  was  all  the  more 
intensely  hated  by  this  element  of  darkness,  because 
be  possessed  these  virtues.  He  was  the  most  illus 
trious  of  all  the  Amt  rtcau  Martyrs,  who  died  that  the 
Republic  m  ghl  live;  but  he  was  only  the  precursor  of 
thousand;*  of  more  humble  men  and  women  who  have 
since  cied  by  the  assassin's  hands.  '1  he  midnight 
murderers,  with  their  dis^ui^es,  are  still  about.  The 
crackling  Uamta  of  humble  homes,  the  moans  of  the 
dying  and  the  shrieks  of  the  helpless  yet  startle  the 
midnight  air.  Fora  umr,  with  martial  law  impending. 
there  is  a  lull ;  but  woe  unto  the  victims,  if  the  uatior-il 


flag  were  torn  from  the  hands  of  loyal  men.  No  pen 
could  describe  the  awful  massacre  of  colored  men  that 
would  inevitably  follow. 

The  Republican  party  is  an  organization  of  self-think 
ing  men  ;  it  doea  not  follow  Conkling,  Morton,  or  Grant; 
neither  doe-  U  fu-llow  Sumner,  (Jreeley,  and  £churz. 
On  the  contrary,  the  party  at  large  demands  obfd  ence 
and  loyalty  from  all  its  members  to  the  declared  prin 
ciples  of  its  organization.  Of  all  the  ridiculous  inven 
tions  of  an  unscrupulous  enemy  the  story  that  official 
patronage  can  con  rol  the  policy  of  the  Republican 
party,  is  the  most  insulting'and  absurd.  Did  not  John- 
son  try  that?  Didn't  he  offer  all  the  patronage  oJ  the 
government,  which  was  considerably  greater  during 
his  administration  than  it  is  to-day,  as  prizes  for  polit 
ical  treason?  How  many  worth  buying  did  he  get? 
Not  one!  And  if  the  President  were  to  endeavor  tc 
interfere  with  the  free  choice  of  the  party,  both  as  tc 
men,  principles  or  measures,  he  would  become  the  ob 
ject  of  rebuke  instead  of  the  malcontents,  who,  bj 
threats  of  bolti'og,  intend  to  coerce  the  organize 
tion. 

The  Republican  party  never  surrenders.    It  may,  in 
time,  be  overcome  by  its  political  foes;  but  under  no 
circumstances  will  four  millions  of  self-thinking  voters 
surrender  their  well  matured  convictions  to  a  factior 
so  f>rnall  that  an  omnibus  will  hold  them  all.     It  is  th 
main  security  of  our  Republic  that  it  rests  not  upoi 
the  shou'ders  of  a  few  political  leaders,  but  upon  th 
self-thinking  masses;  it  is  the  most  encouraging  fea'? 
tu re  of  Republican  progress,  that  it  has  educated   th 
people  to  a  point,  where  public  men  only  become  fh 
mouth  pieces  of  (he  popular  will.     And  as  long  as  th 
people  remain  the  master  of  their  own  destiny  ;  refua^ 
ing  to  follow  leaders,  however  brilliant,  when  they  ar 
actuated  bv  personal  motives;  thinking  for  themselve|»f 
and  weighing  all  public  question   by  their  own  calf 
judgment,  the  Republic  is  not  only  safe,  but  will  b< 
Come  the  model  government  of  the  world. 

In  the  St.  Lorenzo  Church,  at  the  city  of  Xurember. 
can  be  seen  one  of  those  transcendet-t  efforts  of  geniu: 
which  photographs  upon  canvas  the  history  of  eighteej 
Centuries  and  of  centuries  yet  unborn.  It  tells  tr 
wondrous  story  of  the  rise  and  diffusion  of  Christianity 
in  lines  so  sweet  and  plain,  that  even  a  child  can  r-.fl 
it  there.  In  the  foreground  sits  Joseph  and  near  hiij 
Mary  with  her  beautiful  infant  in  her  lap,  in  the  elab: 
where  he  was  born.  The  three  Kings,  from  the  Fi 
East,  have  just  arrived,  and  kneeling,  are  depositii. 
tiic-ir  crowns  and  offerings  at  the  feet  of  the  Chrii: 
chi.d.  These  wise  mt-n  of  the  East  are  only  the  IK 
vauce  guard.  At  the  threshold  are  the  apostles  an 
disciples;  the  Romans,  Greeks  and  Crusaders  are  ac 
vancing;  nations  with  various  flags  and  banners,  an 
men  of  all  conditions  are  approaching;  here  sks  tb- 
proud  noble  upon  his  stately  steed,  and  yonder  p.oc 
the  pilgrim,  worn  and  foot-sore.  As  fur  as  the  eye  c^ 
reach,  over  hills  and  vales  the  endleas  pn«e£si»c  *T:'cc 
its  way,  and  at  the  outer  edge,  shipd  mmi  cti*r  tJunt 
nents  are  disembarking  the  hum&A  ti&9  4?26'-*Tc;  €  &W 
to  this  center  of  truth  and  fratsrnit/. 

And  thus  our  Republic — "a  gov.rnrneut  r-f  the  pe< 
pie.  by  the  people,  and  for  the  peop'  >,"  as  the  illu 
trious  Lincoln,  so  well  defined  it— has  also  become  tl: 
asylum  of  the  oppressed,  the  light  of  the  world;  tl 
hope  and  faith  in  the  possibi  ity  of  belter  days.  A 
the  children  of  Israel,  smitten  wiih  disease  and  deal! 
gazed  with  eager  eye  upon  the  brazen  serpent  elevate 
as  a  means  ofsafety,  so  is  the  starry  flag  regarded  t 
the  promise  t;f  Paradise  regained — a  conscious, 
created  paradise,  founded  upon  wise  laws  and  unive 
Sil  justice.  The  Mouarchs  from  the  Far  East,  wit 
their  bowed  flags  and  crown  offerings,  are  at  hauc 
the  endless  procession— a  contnbu  ion  by  all  nations- 
is  advancing;  the  light  of  the  Republic  shines  wit. 
increasing  effulgence;  and  our  example  Cdl<s  in  tl 
language  of  liberty  and  brotherhood  intelligible  to  u 
mankind  ;  "  This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it." 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBR 


